Happy Publication Day to Death at the Dinner Party, book three in A Secret Bookcase Mystery series by Ellie Alexander! I am 100% invested in this series, inhaling this latest entry in just one day.  (For my review of books one and two, click here.)

247 pages, Kindle Edition

September 30, 2024 by Storm Publishing

It’s fall, and Halloween is quickly approaching in the town of Redwood Grove, California. Bookseller Annie Murray is busy designing and coordinating a ticketed, immersive murder mystery dinner party to help her friend Penny. Penny has been carefully renovating and restoring the historic Wentworth farmhouse she recently purchased. This project, though, doesn’t come cheap, and Annie hopes this dinner party will raise money to assist Penny’s restoration. The Wentworth farmhouse, empty since 1970, is considered a local landmark in Redwood Grove, and rumors still swirl about the family and the possibility of a hidden fortune on the property. 

As the house fills with the delicious smells of dinner and a storm rages outside, the guests and murder mystery actors are ready. Unfortunately Curtis Wright, a neighbor and all around unpleasant town bully, is in attendance, and it seems that everyone at the dinner has reason to hate him. It’s still surprising and horrifying, though, when Curtis drops dead at the dining table only moments into the soup course. And it’s clear that his death is not from natural causes. 

Due to the storm, police are slow to get to the farmhouse, and Annie’s in charge. What follows is a sort of locked room mystery, similar to the wonderful movie Clue. Even when the police finally arrive and everyone is sent home with instructions not to leave town, Annie doesn’t stop investigating. And the tension and twists just keep coming. I was tapping away so fast on my kindle that I had to remind myself to slow down, to see if I could catch the killer with Annie. The final scene had me holding my breath. 

While the murder mystery in book three wraps up, the continuing storyline of the murder of Annie’s dear college friend continues. I’d also add there’s more buildup to a possible romance for Annie, and I’m here for it. 

If you enjoy reading seasonally, this is the perfect fall read with wonderful details of life in Redwood Grove and the Secret Bookcase Shop decorated for Halloween, as well as a clever mystery with the hint of lost treasure. I’d love to visit Annie and the town of Redwood Grove in real life, but since I can’t, I’ll stick with the pages of a book. And readers don’t have to wait long for book four – A Holiday Homicide, due out on November 20, 2024. 

A Holiday Homicide (A Secret Bookcase Mystery Book 4) by Ellie Alexander

259 pages, Kindle Edition

November 20, 2024 by Storm Publishing

About the Author:

Ellie is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over thirty published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.

She loves inhabiting someone else’s skin through the pages of a book and is passionate about helping writers find their unique storytelling lens. As a writing teacher and coach, she guides writers in crafting the story they’ve always wanted to tell while navigating the path to publication that’s right for them.

Find out more about Ellie and her books by visiting her website.

Social Media Links:

~ Instagram ~ TikTok ~ YouTube ~ Twitter/X ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~

Podcast:

Reality Writes Podcast: stars bestselling mystery author Ellie Alexander and her Tech Guy husband as they reveal the ins and outs of writing. ~ YouTube ~ Apple Podcasts ~ Spotify ~